bazzer: The thing is that you're still liable for GST on the total cost including shipping (less any GST already paid I suppose, i.e. the bank fee or youshop's postage, I'm not sure there's any GST on either of those).

Regardless of what mistake youshop made, the total cost is over $400 so GST is over $60 so you need to pay it.

If sleemanj is correct, then the total cost minus the bank fee is under $400 so gst would be slightly under $60 as a result.

bazzer: The thing is that you're still liable for GST on the total cost including shipping (less any GST already paid I suppose, i.e. the bank fee or youshop's postage, I'm not sure there's any GST on either of those).

Regardless of what mistake youshop made, the total cost is over $400 so GST is over $60 so you need to pay it.

If sleemanj is correct, then the total cost minus the bank fee is under $400 so gst would be slightly under $60 as a result.

I agree with you, if he's right (and I have no reason to think he is not) but good luck getting any kind of refund from Customs for it. I think she may just have to suck it up and take it as a learning experience. Would you be able to have the same argument if the bank didn't charge the fee and "hid" it within the exchange rate (such as paypal do)? I suspect not.

I was considering trying this myself, but this is giving me second thoughts. I'd be tempted to declare the value of the item incorrectly (i.e. actual cost * USD/NZD) knowing that youshop will likely miscalculate and enter the declared value as declared value * NZD/USD thereby giving actually the correct declared value! ;)

bazzer: The thing is that you're still liable for GST on the total cost including shipping (less any GST althe ready paid I suppose, i.e. the bank fee or youshop's postage, I'm not sure there's any GST on either of those).

Regardless of what mistake youshop made, the total cost is over $400 so GST is over $60 so you need to pay it.

If sleemanj is correct, then the total cost minus the bank fee is under $400 so gst would be slightly under $60 as a result.

I agree with you, if he's right (and I have no reason to think he is not) but good luck getting any kind of refund from Customs for it. I think she may just have to suck it up and take it as a learning experience. Would you be able to have the same argument if the bank didn't charge the fee and "hid" it within the exchange rate (such as paypal do)? I suspect not.

I was considering trying this myself, but this is giving me second thoughts. I'd be tempted to declare the value of the item incorrectly (i.e. actual cost * USD/NZD) knowing that youshop will likely miscalculate and enter the declared value as declared value * NZD/USD thereby giving actually the correct declared value! ;)

Interestingly enough, i ordered one myself and it was declared correctly. I also followed the nexus 4 shipping thread here on geekzone and this is the first case of incorrect declaration ive seen.

Its also sad if we have to break the law and incorrectly declare to correct their mistakes

bazzer: The thing is that you're still liable for GST on the total cost including shipping (less any GST althe ready paid I suppose, i.e. the bank fee or youshop's postage, I'm not sure there's any GST on either of those).

Regardless of what mistake youshop made, the total cost is over $400 so GST is over $60 so you need to pay it.

If sleemanj is correct, then the total cost minus the bank fee is under $400 so gst would be slightly under $60 as a result.

I agree with you, if he's right (and I have no reason to think he is not) but good luck getting any kind of refund from Customs for it. I think she may just have to suck it up and take it as a learning experience. Would you be able to have the same argument if the bank didn't charge the fee and "hid" it within the exchange rate (such as paypal do)? I suspect not.

I was considering trying this myself, but this is giving me second thoughts. I'd be tempted to declare the value of the item incorrectly (i.e. actual cost * USD/NZD) knowing that youshop will likely miscalculate and enter the declared value as declared value * NZD/USD thereby giving actually the correct declared value! ;)

Interestingly enough, i ordered one myself and it was declared correctly. I also followed the nexus 4 shipping thread here on geekzone and this is the first case of incorrect declaration ive seen.

Its also sad if we have to break the law and incorrectly declare to correct their mistakes

The way I see it, as long as the value on the customs declaration is correct, no laws are broken.

BigMal: When you order a Nexus 4 via youshop you have to declare the value in USD. Did she write USD$299 or USD $358?

She wrote USD $299. Youshop messed up and typed $358 USD. The form on youshop asks for the value of the package in USD so there shouldn't be any confusion.

When you log into youshop you can see completed orders which also displays that amount you declared. Lay your complaint with nzpost showing the declared amount in youshop ($299) compared to the amount on the postage label ($358).

BigMal: When you order a Nexus 4 via youshop you have to declare the value in USD. Did she write USD$299 or USD $358?

She wrote USD $299. Youshop messed up and typed $358 USD. The form on youshop asks for the value of the package in USD so there shouldn't be any confusion.

When you log into youshop you can see completed orders which also displays that amount you declared. Lay your complaint with nzpost showing the declared amount in youshop ($299) compared to the amount on the postage label ($358).

Package will probably arrive tomorrow as it was released from customs today after yesterday's payment. Will add that to the complaint I suppose.

gregmcc:Here is a free tip, use paypal (if possible) for overseas credit card purchases, paypal charge you credit card in $NZ so you avoid the greedy bank conversion fees

Here's another tip - avoid Paypal's currency conversion at all costs. Their conversion rates are an absolute ripoff.

Last time I compared them the PayPal conversion rates were worse than the bank, but the bank fees they add after the conversion left you even worse off. ASB's offshore margin fee is >2% on the converted NZD value.

Net result was PayPal was cheaper and you knew the exact price at the time you pay. YMMV with your Bank/Visa/MC combo and the currency involved.

sleemanj: Somebody was complaining about similar on the Trademe forums recently, seems Youshop have a habit of calculating $XX USD to $YY NZD but writing on the package $YY USD; then of course customs does $YY USD to $ZZ NZD when it enters NZ - double conversion.

If that is what has happened, then it appears the fault could be with youshop, as they have place the wrong amount, or the wrong currency on the package. I would contact NZ post about it if you are having trouble with youshop.

sleemanj: Somebody was complaining about similar on the Trademe forums recently, seems Youshop have a habit of calculating $XX USD to $YY NZD but writing on the package $YY USD; then of course customs does $YY USD to $ZZ NZD when it enters NZ - double conversion.

If that is what has happened, then it appears the fault could be with youshop, as they have place the wrong amount, or the wrong currency on the package. I would contact NZ post about it if you are having trouble with youshop.

They would just tell you to contact customs as after the package arrives in New Zealand, only they can deal with it.

sleemanj: Somebody was complaining about similar on the Trademe forums recently, seems Youshop have a habit of calculating $XX USD to $YY NZD but writing on the package $YY USD; then of course customs does $YY USD to $ZZ NZD when it enters NZ - double conversion.

If that is what has happened, then it appears the fault could be with youshop, as they have place the wrong amount, or the wrong currency on the package. I would contact NZ post about it if you are having trouble with youshop.

They would just tell you to contact customs as after the package arrives in New Zealand, only they can deal with it.

Yeap, but if youshop have made an error, you should be able to go back to them for compensation, or they should handle it for you with customs due to their error. From what you have said, Youshop would be the only ones that could prove that the amount they have put on the box is wrong.

sleemanj: Somebody was complaining about similar on the Trademe forums recently, seems Youshop have a habit of calculating $XX USD to $YY NZD but writing on the package $YY USD; then of course customs does $YY USD to $ZZ NZD when it enters NZ - double conversion.

If that is what has happened, then it appears the fault could be with youshop, as they have place the wrong amount, or the wrong currency on the package. I would contact NZ post about it if you are having trouble with youshop.

They would just tell you to contact customs as after the package arrives in New Zealand, only they can deal with it.

Yeap, but if youshop have made an error, you should be able to go back to them for compensation, or they should handle it for you with customs due to their error. From what you have said, Youshop would be the only ones that could prove that the amount they have put on the box is wrong.

I don't think it's within their power to correct their mistake with customs. Instead, they get you to personally correct it with your receipts and credit card statements. Sadly, this does not accurately reflect the value of the parcel itself and is what caused this problem in the first place.

My sister actually called up her bank and was told that currency conversion can't be taxed and that this is a valid point to argue. Customs should only be taking into account the actual value of the parcel and not what is printed on the statement as banks all use different conversion rates with different fees so it is not an accurate representation.